Host's offer of "unlimited sub domains" doesn't square with what system allows

Misunderstanding or misrepresentation?

[joergnw10]

My hosting package apparently includes 'unlimited sub domains'.

I've been trying to set some up and found out that I can only have sub domains as addresses that forward to places in the existing website. So sub.website.com forwards to website.com/sub. <Snip>

Did I have a wrong understanding of sub domains?

<Mod Add>What is the "common or accepted understanding" of how a "sub domain" is set up, how sub domains operate, etc.</Add>

<Mod Note: Please, no contract terms and let's try to sort this out with out "host identifying specifics". Thanks.>

[edited by: Webwork at 1:32 pm (utc) on Jan. 15, 2008]
[edit reason] Sorry, there are limits on soliciting legal opinions. See Charter. [/edit]

[LifeinAsia]

That sounds about right to me.

Or are you saying the subdomain MUST be the exact name as the sudbirectory? (In other words, you're not allowed to have sub1.example.com go to example.com/sub2 or even examples.com)

[joergnw10]

Sorry if my first post wasn't according to the forum toc's!
My problem is that I thought if I set up a subdomain people would then type into their browser sub.website.com and it would display the content. But according to my host this would cost extra.
What I can set up for free is a forward from sub.website.com (which will never be directly accessible) to website.com/sub. I don't see the point of this - wouldn't I then just use a subdirectory in the first place?

[LifeinAsia]

Ah, you mean a wildcard subdirectory setup? In other words, if someone typed aaa.example.com or bbb.example.com or whatevertheywant.example.com it will go to www.example.com, correct? I know some places do charge extra for that.

I'm still not clear- if someone types sub.example.com, they are redirected to example.com/sub (that's what they see in their address bar), or they still see sub.example.com and your content is located at example.com/sub (which is the way it should be)? If all it is is a redirect, then yes, I would say that's misrepresentation. That would be unlimited redirecting, not unlimited subdomains.

[joergnw10]

Yes I think you're right, it's basically just a redirect. You would be redirected and never be able to see sub.example.com in the adress bar.
What I don't get is why I would want to set this up in the first place. You create a folder in your website, then set up a "sub domain" which then redirects back to your website. You could just do that with your htaccess.
Very strange.